The best beaches in La Graciosa
La Graciosa is about as close as you can get in the Canary Islands to travelling back in time. Twenty-five minutes by boat from the north of Lanzarote and you step onto an island with no paved roads, made of sandy streets and white houses, where you get around on foot, by bike or in a 4x4 that doubles as a taxi. There are no postcard hotels here, no promenades lined with back-to-back terraces: there are dunes, low volcanoes in shades of colour and some of the cleanest, clearest beaches in the archipelago, protected within the largest marine reserve in Europe. A wild beach to face the open sea, a quiet cove for a long swim and untouched sand you can only reach on foot: we run through the best ones by the kind of day you're after and, at the end, how to pick yours and swim sensibly.
Untouched sand: the jewel of the north
The image everyone takes home from La Graciosa is the Playa de las Conchas, on the north of the island, a wide golden stretch of sand at the foot of Montaña Bermeja, with the islet of Montaña Clara right opposite. It's one of the most beautiful beaches in the Canaries, the kind made of silence and horizon, without a single building in sight. But it has to be said plainly: this is not a beach for a relaxed swim. It faces the northern sea and has strong currents and undertow, with no lifeguards, so swimming can be dangerous even when the water looks calm. You come here to walk, to take photos and to sit and gaze, and if you do get in, do it with the utmost caution and where it barely covers you. To get there you have about five kilometres of track from Caleta de Sebo: a good hike or a great bike ride.
Quiet coves: for a proper swim
When what you want is to get into the water without any surprises, head south. Playa Francesa is the safest and most rewarding bet: a cove of pale sand and turquoise water, very sheltered, with Lanzarote and the imposing Risco de Famara right opposite. It's a short walk from Caleta de Sebo and where many of the boat trips put in, so at midday it has a buzz, but the water is calm and clear, perfect for swimming and snorkelling.
A little further on, at the south-western tip, Playa de la Cocina hides at the foot of Montaña Amarilla, a small ochre-coloured volcano that drops straight into the sea. It's a small, sheltered cove of crystal-clear water, with a bottom that looks like a swimming pool: one of the loveliest sights on the island and an ideal spot for a quiet dip away from the crowds. It takes a bit more walking, but it's worth it.
A stone's throw from the village
You don't have to go far for a swim. Next to Caleta de Sebo, the island's only village with services, you'll find the beach of Bahía del Salado and several small coves of sand and rock where the water is usually calm. They're not the most spectacular, but they're welcome when you arrive loaded with your backpack, want to cool off as you step off the boat, or are after a quick swim before eating at one of the harbour terraces. This is also where almost all the accommodation and dining is, so many visitors use these coves as a base and head over to Las Conchas or La Cocina during the day.
In this same bay, moreover, is the only legal camping area in the whole Archipiélago Chinijo. It's free, but it requires a permit you apply for online in advance, so it's worth checking availability and the current conditions before counting on it: places are limited and areas are sometimes closed. And if you're drawn to out-of-the-way spots, on the north-east of the island lies Pedro Barba, a handful of old fishermen's houses now used almost entirely as summer homes, with a tiny sandy cove sheltered from the wind.
Did you know? La Graciosa is, officially, the eighth inhabited island of the Canaries. For decades it was considered merely an islet dependent on Lanzarote, until in June 2018 the Spanish Senate recognised it as an island in its own right. With just over 700 registered inhabitants, almost all in Caleta de Sebo, it forms part of the Archipiélago Chinijo Natural Park and of a marine reserve that ranks among the largest in Europe. That's why everything here runs on conservation: no rental cars, no housing developments and dirt tracks you take slowly.
How to choose your beach (and a few tips)
Wild or calm. If you're after the photo and the scenery, your place is Las Conchas, in the north, but bear in mind it's for looking and strolling more than for swimming. If what you want is to get into the water and enjoy it, go to the Francesa or La Cocina, in the south: sheltered coves, turquoise water and a safe swim when the sea isn't running strong.
How to get to the island. You get there by ferry from Órzola, in the north of Lanzarote: about 25 minutes across the El Río strait, with several departures a day. There's no official access quota for the island like the Lobos permit: the real limit is set by the seats on the boat and the few beds in Caleta de Sebo. Even so, in summer and on long weekends it's worth booking the boat (and your accommodation, if you're staying overnight) well in advance.
How to get around on the island. On La Graciosa there are no rental cars and no paved roads. You get around on foot, by bike (rented in Caleta de Sebo) or in the 4x4s that work as taxis to the northern beaches. These 4x4 taxis are very few, around fifteen, and in 2026 Teguise Town Council approved a cap on their number to protect the environment, so in high season it's worth booking your return with the driver as soon as you arrive, unless you want to end up walking back under the sun. For Las Conchas or La Cocina, plan your time and distance carefully: they're sandy tracks, with no shade and no services.
Come prepared. Outside Caleta de Sebo there are no beach bars, no showers, no bins and not a scrap of shade: on beaches like Las Conchas you won't find a tree or a wall to shelter behind, and with the glare off the pale sand the sun really beats down. Bring water, food, sun protection and a beach umbrella or tent, and above all take all your rubbish back with you: it's a protected natural park and it's looked after by everyone. And don't stray off the marked paths.
Check before you cross. Before catching the boat, take a look at the state of the sea and wind in the north of Lanzarote: if it's blowing hard, you'll feel it on the crossing and on the open northern beaches. The harbour of Caleta de Sebo and the strait can be seen on live webcams.
Safety. The Canary Atlantic is not the Mediterranean. On open beaches like Las Conchas, the currents and undertow can be dangerous and there are no lifeguards. Always watch the state of the sea and, if in doubt, stay in the sheltered coves of the south or where it's shallow. We cover it in detail in our guide to currents and undertow in the Canaries.
On islas24 you'll find each of these beaches with its location, how to get there and its services, so you can plan your day on the island without surprises. Untouched sand or turquoise cove, wild walk or quiet swim: La Graciosa is small, but it's enough for a perfect day if you choose well. You just have to decide which sea you want to keep.